Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Jailhouse Rock

I think we all know by now that black and white is in and not just regular old black and white separates but colour blocked, graphic prints, stripes etcetera etcetera etcetera.

This is nothing new, they were in last year, Spring 2012 to be exact, I remember River Island resplendent in a sea of minimalism. Fashion cheats, fashion repeats, don't stress yourself buying new things, its a conspiracy!!!

Anyhoo :)

I'm not a big fan of black and white seeing as I was forced to wear it everyday for about 7 years while studying and practicing law but even though I love to hate it I can't help but appreciate the sartorial figure one cuts when donning a super fash black and white look. Plus its a staple of some of my favourite designers; Celine, Jil Sander, Chanel.....classic shit.

I recently sent out a Fashion Newsletter for the Women's Network in my office where I trumpeted the resurgence (again) of this super sharp monochromatic palette. So yah, I'm here for black and white *face palm* in a big way.

On Sunday, I had a super busy day and as a result of the fact that Lagos is roasting slowly on Jehovah's barbecue pit I had to wear something that ensured I won't be reduced to a puddle once I stepped outside, plus I was feening for some black and white...therefore....ta-daaaa!!

Then I headed out to my aunts surprise birthday do which was a blast as all the Okpaleke bashes are.

Uju Offiah of Meena

After all that waka, I ended the night at the Muson Centre where I went to see a play starring Yaw and Funke Akindele titled 'The Bar'.

It was terribly interesting.

Apparently its an annual event but this was the first I'd heard of it. The basic premise is a cast of characters, sometimes one person but never more than two cast a satirical look on everything that's happened in Nigeria over the past year; political scandals, financial misappropriation, nepotism, bombings, election rigging, money laundering.......basically a day in the life of the average Nigerian. These characters tell the story of these happenings without mentioning any names just with a few clues enough that the audience are able to guess who is being lampooned. From time to time you'd hear the names being mumbled by the audience, it was great fun.

This year's play starred Yaw and Funke Akindele and I don't mean to be offensive or anything but I'd only ever heard Funke Akindele speak in her "Jenifa" accent, not like I thought that was how she spoke 24/7 but I thought it might be very close. Surprisingly (to me anyway) she had a very normal accent, she sounded like the next person, I was really shocked. She even spoke phoneh from time to time, it completely blew my mind. She would lapse occasionally into her Jenifa tongue which the audience loved but for the most part she spoke in a regular Lagos accent which I and a lot of people that grew up in Lagos have.

*sidebar* This Lagos accent consists of pronouncing words properly so it almost sounds like phoneh but not quite and its partly tribe neutral, no-one can tell what part of the country you're from, but then some specific infrequent words give your mother tongue away as a result of parents who grew up in the East or North or West. It also has a trace of Valley Girl gained from watching countless American tv from the time you learn how to speak, and finally its peppered liberally with slang and pidgin. Unless you escaped from Lagos just after secondary school and even after moving back tenaciously held on to whatever foreign accent you acquired abroad, ten to one, you most likely sound like this.

Anyhoo Funke Akindele's regular voice is just well....regular. Now I know so I don't think the girl is really a Suliat from Aiyetoro.

Lurvv the outfit..... Please do a weekly posts of events, such as this, that are gonna happen in Lagos for we that need places to go to but don't know of anywhere, will be really appreciated. Pretty pls, Merci

Daks nwannem! You hit the nail on the head with your description of "the Lagos accent"..... I think in addition to that most of us with the accent attended a federal secondary school, that is if you are 25years and above.

Ehen! Back to your outfit, you know you always get it right. You have given me an idea on what to wear to my sons' school on Saturday for their fun day. Though my shorts is in ankara fabric (i always ask my tailor to make shorts with left over fabric). Will pair it with a tee as d weather is really hot and there will be lots of moving around and cheering!

*sigh* wish I could blink and I will be shruken to your size, ok thats greedy, maybe two sizes bigger! Lolllll!

'Shine Bright like ...' Neon!I love ur clutch n neckpiece! Always gorgeous.Ps. I can relate to ur not being a fan of black n white. Uni was easier, I'm scared shitless wen I tink of how law school myt be lk wen it comes to strictness of d uniform tingy.Jehova bu eze!

Lovely adaku,look forward to your posts, your dressing is Always over on point, gong to look for a similar look.so if u c a copy cat,I got dress code patent rights by virtue of bin a righteous follower of your blog.